Challenge Jupiter Return

[flytandem]

I'm curious what different solutions might come from this challenge...:thumbup:
Scenario starts with the ship just having rounded Jupiter. Goal is to return to Earth within 5 years.

BEGIN_DESC
Return to Earth within 5 years.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 57652.2298464368
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship 3
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET 3
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 10.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_SHIPS
3:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Jupiter
  RPOS 714547574.68 -84514945.57 2281499427.00
  RVEL 9071.123 -554.968 9419.355
  AROT 177.88 17.26 -2.02
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.015151 1:0.077071
  NAVFREQ 0 524 84 114
  XPDR 6
  PSNGR 2 3 4
  TRIM -0.372426
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_VistaBoost
END

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END

 

[dgatsoulis]

I had a lot of fun, trying to come up with different solutions for this challenge.
I'll start with the first one i found.
(Note: After the beginning of the scenario, i time-warped up to
MJD 58096.944 and there, i made a 6.7 m/s correction that gets me to Mars on MJD 58273.4543. All the solutions that i will present in this thread, start from that point. The deadline is MJD 59478.23)

Solution No1:
The idea is this: Aerosling on Mars and find a solution that gets you to directly to Earth with the lowest Enc.Vel. (Within the time frame). This can be done with these parameters in TransX: Stage1: Target Mars -> Stage2: Escape -> Stage3: Target Earth -> Stage4: View: Encounter.
At Stage3: Variables: Orbits to Icept: 1.0
Outward Angle = -89.8748', Inc. Angle = -5.0872'
The Pe/Pl ratio is 0.4206, which is rather easy to achieve in an aerosling. (If there is such a thing as an "easy" aerosling).
I like to think of this solution as simple and elegant. (and kind of boring... )
After the aerosling, you coast around the sun once and then you arrive at Earth about 43 days before the deadline, with a low Encounter Velocity. Even if you slightly mess up the aerosling, you still have more than 870m/s dV, left in the DG to correct your mistakes.
Here is the scenario with the plan:
(One thing to remember, in case that in stage 3 the Orbits to Icept variable has dropped to 0.0, go and raise it to 1.0).

BEGIN_DESC
Contains the latest simulation state.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 58096.9656287816
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship 3
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET 3
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 10.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  3
  FNumber 3
  Int 0
  Orbit True
  Vector  -351719408882 2561216017.98 -269480856706
  Vector  19016.3762791 -502.877157851 -2775.99379151
  Double  1.32712439955e+020
  Double  58096.9656287
  Handle Sun
  Handle NULL
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9532895
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 4
  Orbit True
  Vector  -1188436004.09 -116469128.711 -6122535302.23
  Vector  2395.66102303 231.826913034 12303.9028735
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  58267.695509
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.956923
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
View Orbit
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 3
  Orbit True
  Vector  8815740333.9 -4762052057.41 -216762382507
  Vector  25804.6482849 213.77359915 15560.7328701
  Double  1.32712482783e+020
  Double  58273.4527117
  Handle Sun
  Handle Mars
  Handle Earth
Select Target
 0 Earth
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9656285
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 2
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Velocity.
 0  0
Outward angle
 5  -1.56861086041
Inc. angle
 3  -0.0887883897075
Inherit Vel.
0 0
Eject date
 0  58273.4527117
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE Orbit
  PROJ Frame
  FRAME Ecliptic
  REF Jupiter
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
3:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Sun
  RPOS -351719408747.49 2561216014.43 -269480856725.96
  RVEL 19016.376 -502.877 -2775.994
  AROT -68.90 66.67 96.14
  RCSMODE 2
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.015009 1:0.074828
  NAVFREQ 0 524 84 114
  XPDR 6
  PSNGR 2 3 4
  TRIM -0.372426
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END

If you don't know how to make an aerosling, you can find an excellent tutorial on flytandem's page here.
The idea is that you dip inside a planet's atmosphere. to lower the energy of your orbit, and then you get out of it, just in time to go ahead with the rest of your plan.
Easy? No!
But, was it easy to dock with the ISS?

Have fun, happy orbiting!

 

[flytandem]

(snip) (and kind of boring... ) (snip)

LOL. I know you are just kidding about aeroslings being boring. But I really am amazed by your skills.
BTW... this flight was the final stretch of one that left this week that went from Earth around Venus 2 times, then Earth then to Jupiter, then back. It had the aerosling planned at Mars from the start but I thought it a fun challenge to supply just a bit less than enough to go directly back to Earth after rounding Jup. I know, a teaser. I didn't check other solutions,... but your PM mentioned several other possibilities. Amazing work DG. Delightful. But not surprising. I am rarely surprised by what options exist. Seek and ye shall find.

 

[dgatsoulis]

Solution No2:
This time: Aerosling on Mars and get to Earth.Fast.
Here is how:
TransX: Stage1: Target Mars -> Stage2: Escape -> Stage3: Target Earth -> Stage4: View: Encounter.
At Stage3: Variables: Orbits to Icept: 0.0, Outward Angle = -120.6029', Inc. Angle = -5.3072'
The Pe/Pl ratio is 0.1144, which makes sense, since we want to lose more energy, we'll have to dive deeper in the Martian atmosphere and stay there longer.
Arrival at Earth on MJD 58322.9
Here is the scenario with the plan:

BEGIN_DESC
Contains the latest simulation state.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 58096.9495473660
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship 3
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET 3
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 10.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  3
  FNumber 4
  Int 0
  Orbit True
  Vector  -351745830798 2561914789.67 -269476999043
  Vector  19015.6522122 -502.819002522 -2776.27115205
  Double  1.32712439955e+020
  Double  58096.9495469
  Handle Sun
  Handle NULL
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9495467
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 4
  Orbit True
  Vector  -1188425466.89 -115883732.269 -6122586234.94
  Vector  2395.81297005 231.853953649 12304.6219245
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  58267.6905357
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.949431
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
View Orbit
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 3
  Orbit True
  Vector  8804326553.31 -4759885037.63 -216763816517
  Vector  25692.3924958 -54.9222783196 15579.3584283
  Double  1.32712482783e+020
  Double  58273.4474281
  Handle Sun
  Handle Mars
  Handle Earth
Select Target
 0 Earth
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9494065
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Velocity.
 0  0
Outward angle
 4  -2.10491699432
Inc. angle
 4  -0.0926288121935
Inherit Vel.
0 0
Eject date
 0  58273.4474281
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 5
  Orbit True
  Vector  6060853391.16 -586411075.619 -6770923280.41
  Vector  -12303.4417599 1190.25049135 13744.8580499
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  58317.2314846
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 None
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.944561
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Draw Base
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
3:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Sun
  RPOS -351745830083.90 2561914770.77 -269476999147.74
  RVEL 19015.652 -502.819 -2776.271
  AROT -68.90 66.67 96.14
  RCSMODE 2
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.015009 1:0.074932
  NAVFREQ 0 524 84 114
  XPDR 6
  PSNGR 2 3 4
  TRIM -0.372426
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END

At this point you can try a couple of different variations of the first and the second plan. If you switch Orbits to Icept variable to 0.5 and tweak the Ej. Orientation and Inc.Angle a bit, you get at least two succesful plans that get you to Earth. The main idea is the same. Aerosling on Mars -> Earth.

Now, lets get to the interesting stuff.
Why make just one aerosling maneuver, when you can make two?
The plan goes like this: Stage1: Target Mars -> Stage2: Escape (aerosling) -> Stage3: Target Venus -> Stage4: Escape (aerosling) -> Stage5: Target Earth -> Stage 6: View: Encounter.

You will see the details of this plan in the scenario below. Here are some interesting facts:
The Pe/Pl ratio of the first aerosling on Mars is 0.02338! :blink:
You'll have to lose a lot of energy at this dive.
On Venus, things are a bit easier (Venus aerosling Pe/Pl ratio is 0.8286),still this is going to be a hard maneuver.

DISCLAIMER: I've never tried an aerosling with a Pe/Pl ratio lower than 0.1, so i don't know if it's possible. In principle, it should work. This will definitely be a fun scenario to try out.

Here is the scenario, with the plan:

BEGIN_DESC
Contains the latest simulation state.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 58096.9603344315
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship 3
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET 3
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 10.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  3
  FNumber 6
  Int 0
  Orbit True
  Vector  -351728108243 2561446175.23 -269479586488
  Vector  19016.1550356 -502.784459067 -2775.98725935
  Double  1.32712439955e+020
  Double  58096.9603339
  Handle Sun
  Handle NULL
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9603335
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 4
  Orbit True
  Vector  -1188294736.44 -115370158.129 -6122595966.63
  Vector  2395.76765748 231.863388353 12304.3877149
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  58267.6921605
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9598124
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
View Orbit
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 3
  Orbit True
  Vector  8808478637.46 -4758293093.22 -216763485522
  Vector  25719.3982703 -318.216653779 15585.9767569
  Double  1.32712482783e+020
  Double  58273.4491455
  Handle Sun
  Handle Mars
  Handle Venus
Select Target
 0 Venus
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.95981
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Velocity.
 0  0
Outward angle
 4  -3.03002841528
Inc. angle
 4  0.0280422050918
Inherit Vel.
0 0
Eject date
 0  58273.4491455
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 4
  Orbit True
  Vector  5700742625.18 -399473323.161 -2342818001.07
  Vector  -26550.9368549 1888.4965326 10897.7857529
  Double  3.2485863e+014
  Double  58368.3133058
  Handle Venus
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9591835
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
View Orbit
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 3
  Orbit True
  Vector  81420429807.7 -5668572256.52 -72152596540.5
  Vector  -3024.77546066 -2171.19106152 38263.9824148
  Double  1.32712764814e+020
  Double  58370.7977905
  Handle Sun
  Handle Venus
  Handle Earth
Select Target
 0 Earth
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9600366
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Velocity.
 0  0
Outward angle
 5  -1.84367995161
Inc. angle
 4  0.124669915668
Inherit Vel.
0 0
Eject date
 0  58370.7977905
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 5
  Orbit True
  Vector  7515614687.51 1284612410.91 -4978787201.68
  Vector  -19067.1541513 -3260.1887497 12631.9487488
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  58683.3234169
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 None
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  58096.9598845
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Draw Base
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE Orbit
  PROJ Frame
  FRAME Ecliptic
  REF Sun
  TARGET Mars
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
3:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Sun
  RPOS -351728107313.25 2561446150.66 -269479586624.00
  RVEL 19016.155 -502.784 -2775.987
  AROT -68.90 66.67 96.14
  RCSMODE 2
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.015009 1:0.074324
  NAVFREQ 0 524 84 114
  XPDR 6
  PSNGR 2 3 4
  TRIM -0.372426
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END

On the next post, i hope to present to you a little game of cosmic pinball. I haven't worked out the plan exactly yet, but i know that i want it to be a 9~10 stage one.

(This is what i meant when i said that the first solution was "boring" :lol

Unfortunately, i won't have a lot of time for Orbiter this weekend 'cause of work. I hope i can at least try out the double aerosling plan, to see if it can be done.